How to Give Yourself a Deep, Cleansing Facial

There’s nothing like sitting back in a spa and getting a facial. It’s one of the most relaxing things you can do for yourself, and one of the healthiest things you can do for your skin. Unfortunately, going to a spa for a facial costs quite a bit of money. So why not just give yourself one at home? Here’s a step by step guide for giving yourself a facial at home without having to pay a spa professional to help out.

Preparation

To start, you’ll want to pull your hair back — after all, we want to treat our skin, not our hair — and wash your face with whatever face wash or acne cleanser you use. This will prepare your face for the mask we’ll put on soon. If you don’t have a cleanser on hand, don’t worry. You can mix two tablespoons of honey with six tablespoons of whole milk and three tablespoons of apple juice (or apple cider) to create a makeshift cleanser. Next, use an exfoliator, to get rid of any dead or unhealthy skin lingering on the surface. Again, if you don’t have one, you can make your own — mix equal parts granulated and soft brown sugar (typically ¼ cup is fine) with a mashed banana and a tablespoon of lemon juice, and apply gently to your skin.

Next, you’ll want to steam your skin — gently! — above a bowl of near-boiling water. Around two hundred to two hundred ten degree fahrenheit water is good. Steep a bag or two of green tea in the water to heighten the experience. Hold your face above the bath for about 5 minutes before moving onto the mask.

The Mask and Aftercare

Now, you’re ready for the mask. If you have a masque already, apply it to your face and let it sit for ten minutes. If you need to make one, mix ⅓ cup of cocoa powder; ½ cup honey; 3 tablespoons cream; and 3 tablespoons of oats. You can, and should, add 1 tablespoon of sand if you have it.

Rinse the mask off carefully, and then tone your skin with water from the tea bath. Apply a toner to your skin — all over your face — and then an eye cream right around your eyes and back to your temples. If you don’t have a dedicated eye cream, consider using argan or coconut oil for this purpose, and then applying a heavy moisturizer over your entire face.

Finally, you’ll want to use a lip scrub to get any dead skin off your lips, and then use a lip balm to keep them moist.

Giving yourself a facial is a time-consuming process, but it’s always worth it. This is a down-to-Earth, effective, and entirely DIY way to enjoy the benefits of a visit to the spa in the comfort of your own home. Give it a try next time you need to kick back and relax.